Congresswoman Barbara Lee statement on Supreme Court ruling protecting gay and transgender workers from discrimination
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia. The ruling affirmed that federal anti-discrimination laws protect gay and transgender employees.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today moved our nation one step closer towards the promise of fairness and equality for all. Of course it should be clear that firing someone for who they love, or where they fall on the gender spectrum, is wrong.
Today we celebrate this important victory for civil and human rights. And as we celebrate this year’s Pride month, it is important to acknowledge how much progress we have made towards justice.
However, we still have a lot of work to do to make our country fair and equal for all. LGBTQ Americans still face discrimination, persecution and even violence because of who they love or who they are. Once again the Trump administration is on the wrong side of history in its campaign to reverse progress on civil rights and equality for the LGBTQ community.
Last year House Democrats passed the comprehensive Equality Act to ensure LGBTQ Americans are equal under the law. It is outrageous that Leader McConnell has refused to allow the Senate to vote on this critical legislation.
We must pass the Equality Act to protect the livelihoods, health and lives of millions of LGBTQ Americans and their families, and we must keep fighting to finally rid our nation from all forms of bigotry or discrimination that continue to hold us back.”
Text of the ruling can be found here.